Diffrence between oem and retail version?

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If you plan on moving the OS to different hardware constantly then yes get the retail, if you plan on putting it on a computer and moving it to a new computer in 3-5 years then the oem system builder is just fine.

Now as asked where are you getting these prices from, this is too cheap to be legit.
The non-legit sources are selling you a pirated key (often from a large company microsoft licensing subscription). So IF the key even activates by microsoft, in a week, a month, 6 months when the rightful owner registers the key for their system then yours will no longer be activated.

Buy a legit key. If you get...
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greens

greens

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Jan 27, 2012
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Depends on what exactly you're talking about. OEM usually ships in a plain brown card board box with little to no documentation. They are for companies/builders that do not need or care about the box.

Retail versions have nice boxes and include documentation - they are for sale to consumers.
 
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mcconkeymike

mcconkeymike

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Dec 31, 2007
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Retail version of Windows can be transferred to another machine, if you build new or significantly upgrade your current. OEM, you are stuck with the same mobo and it can be a stickier situation with other hardware upgrades as well.
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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What mcconkeymike states was true prior to Windows 10 - you can now link your OEM OS to a MS account and undertake a 'significant hardware change' (like a motherboard) and move the OS. https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

There are still likely to be some limitations (as far as number of times you can reinstall on new hardware etc), but the lines between OEM and retail are really thin these days.
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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Posted in the Windows 10 sub-forum gives a good clue :lol:

But seriously, you're right. We all assume it's OEM vs Retail OS.... but there are other OEM vs Retail products out there.
 
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B

boosted1g

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Jun 12, 2013
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Yes, but you know that saying about ass-u-me. Could certainly see someone just picking win 10 thread because that is the OS they plan to install but the question is about Retail SSD or CPU.
 
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B

boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
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If you plan on moving the OS to different hardware constantly then yes get the retail, if you plan on putting it on a computer and moving it to a new computer in 3-5 years then the oem system builder is just fine.

Now as asked where are you getting these prices from, this is too cheap to be legit.
The non-legit sources are selling you a pirated key (often from a large company microsoft licensing subscription). So IF the key even activates by microsoft, in a week, a month, 6 months when the rightful owner registers the key for their system then yours will no longer be activated.

Buy a legit key. If you get emailed a prodcut key then it is not legit!
 
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Solution
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boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
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Show us the link to the site you are looking at and can tell you if it is legit or not.
The cheapest legit copy of OEM windows you can get in USA is $80; now I dont specifically watch exchange rages but last I knew, the GBP was the only currency above 1.2x the USD which makes your $50 price seem highly sketchy.
 
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